Spanish job interviews are formulaic, which is good news if you are working in a second language: the same eight or nine questions come up almost every time. Prepare those and you sound competent even at B1.

The questions you will be asked

  • Háblame de ti — tell me about yourself. Not your biography: two or three sentences on your professional profile.
  • ¿Por qué te interesa este puesto? — why this role?
  • ¿Qué sabes de nuestra empresa? — what do you know about us? Always researched, always noticed.
  • ¿Cuáles son tus puntos fuertes y débiles? — strengths and weaknesses.
  • Cuéntame un logro del que estés orgulloso/a — an achievement you are proud of.
  • ¿Cómo trabajas en equipo? — how do you work in a team?
  • ¿Dónde te ves en cinco años? — where do you see yourself in five years?
  • ¿Cuáles son tus expectativas salariales? — salary expectations.
  • ¿Cuándo podrías incorporarte? — when could you start?

Phrases that carry an answer

  • Cuento con X años de experiencia en… — I have X years of experience in…
  • Mi punto fuerte es la capacidad de… — my strength is the ability to…
  • En mi puesto anterior me encargaba de… — in my previous role I was in charge of…
  • Conseguí aumentar… / reducir… — I managed to increase… / reduce…
  • Me interesa especialmente vuestro enfoque en… — I am particularly interested in your focus on…
  • Estoy disponible a partir de… — I am available from…

Note the register: Spanish companies, especially younger ones, often use tú from the start. If the interviewer uses tú, mirror it; if they use usted, keep it until invited otherwise.

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Weaknesses without self-sabotage

The formula is the same as everywhere: a real but manageable weakness, plus what you do about it.

A veces me implico demasiado en los detalles, así que ahora fijo plazos concretos para cada fase y eso me ayuda a avanzar. — Sometimes I get too caught up in details, so now I set concrete deadlines for each phase, which keeps me moving.

What to ask them

Not asking anything reads as indifference. Three safe questions:

  • ¿Cómo sería un día típico en este puesto? — what would a typical day look like?
  • ¿Cómo se mide el éxito en este rol durante los primeros meses? — how is success measured in the first months?
  • ¿Cuáles son los siguientes pasos del proceso? — what are the next steps?

When you do not understand

This is the moment people dread, and it is entirely survivable. Say so plainly rather than guessing:

  • ¿Podría repetirlo, por favor? — could you repeat that?
  • ¿Podría hablar un poco más despacio? — could you speak a little more slowly?
  • Si no le he entendido mal, se refiere a… — if I understood correctly, you mean…

Asking for a repeat is normal and shows you care about answering accurately. Answering the wrong question confidently is far worse.

About your Spanish level

Be honest — it will be obvious within minutes anyway. A useful framing: Mi nivel es B2: puedo trabajar y mantener reuniones en español, aunque sigo mejorando. Claiming fluency you do not have is the fastest way to lose credibility for everything else you said. What each level means in practice is covered in our guide on how long it takes to reach each level.

Interviews reward rehearsal more than vocabulary. Ten minutes a day saying your answers out loud for a week does more than a month of grammar study — and unlike grammar, it removes the specific fear that makes people freeze.

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Frequently asked questions

What Spanish level do I need for a job interview?

B2 for a role conducted in Spanish: you can handle unpredictable questions and follow a conversation at natural speed. B1 can work for roles where Spanish is secondary, provided you have rehearsed the standard questions — the predictable structure of interviews works in your favour.

Should I use tú or usted in an interview?

Follow the interviewer. Spanish workplaces, especially in tech and startups, use tú widely and switching to it is not disrespectful. In more traditional sectors, banking or public administration, start with usted and keep it until they suggest otherwise.

What if I do not understand a question?

Ask for a repeat or a slower delivery — ¿Podría repetirlo, por favor? Interviewers expect this from non-native speakers and it counts against you far less than answering a question you misheard. Restating what you understood before answering is another safe technique.